Improvement in bee-hives



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.LEEDY.

Patented Sept. 8,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFEicE.

JOHN K. LEEDY, 0E ToMfs BROOK, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT 1N BEE-Hives.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,874, dated September 8, 1874; application filed June 1, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. K. LEEDY, of Toms Brook, in the county of Shenandoah and in the State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bee-Hive; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a'bee-hive, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of my beehive. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the honey-box removed. Fig. 3 is a side View of one of the comb-frames. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, and Fig. 5 an` end view, of the hive. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the honey-box; and Figs. 7 and 8 show the construction of pinchers used in transferring comb.

The hive proper A is made rectangular in form and supported upon legs B B, and has suitable apertures in its sides, to be closed by glass plates a c. O C are corner posts inside of the hive, which posts are grooved vertically for the insertion of the glass plates a from the top. The bottom of the hive is formed in V shape, of two inclined boards, D D, one of which is extended beyond the other, as shown in Fig. 5, to form the alighting-board, and the bee-entrance formed at the angle between the two boards. In .the sides 'of the hive are bars I) b, at suitable height,

which bars are notched at regular intervals on their upper edges to receive and support the comb-frames E E. Each comb-frame E is made of a single piece of wire bent as shown in Fig. 3, forming upward and outward projecting ears d d at the upper corners, and the ends of the wire twisted together at thebottom in auger shape, as shown at e. This part c of each comb-frame is inserted in a hole, fr, in the bottom board D, whereby the frames are held steady, they being supported by their ears d d resting in the notches on the bars b b. In the center of the top part of each frame is attached a split V- shaped piece, f, of tin or other suitable material, to form a starting and guiding point, from which the bees will commence to build their comb. G represents the honey-box, which is placed on the ears d d of the frames, leaving a space between the main combs and the box; and the boX is also so arranged as to leave spaces on all four sides thereof, allowing free access for the bees to the box through openings t z' in the sides thereof, and also leaving no part of the hive to which the bees cannot penetrate, whereby they are enabled to keep the hive free from moth. The whole hive is covered by a cap, H, which may be removed when desired, the spaces around the honey-box Gr at the top being closed by means of strips h h. The top of the honey-box is provided with a glass plate, m.

When transferring comb I use wire pinchers, I, constructed as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, for hanging the comb. These pinchers are so constructed that they may be opened with one hand by pressing on their upper end and letting Hy shut while held with the other hand.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The comb-frame E, constructed of a piece of wire, in the form shown, with ears d d and twisted parte, substantially asherein set forth.

2. The combination. of the comb-frame E..

having twisted part e, and the bottom board D, having hole substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. y 3. In combination with the wire frame E, constructed as shown, the double comb-guide f, formed of a piece of thin metal, and bent over the top wire of the frame, as set forth.

4. The combination of the case A, provided with the comb-frames E, having raised ears cl d, the honey-box G, resting upon said ears, the strips h It, closing the space between the honey-box and the hive-body, and the removable cover H, all substantially as set forth.

5. The wire pinchers I, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, for hanging and transferring the combs, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto setmy hand this 28th day of 4Api-i1, 1874.

JOHN K. LEEDY.

Witnesses:

IsAAc HAAs, JOHN W. OTT. 

